Preparation For Christ’s 2nd Coming Weekend Fellowship May 4-5, 2018 Meeting 2 - Maturation of the Firstfruits And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work. (Revelation 22:12)

The Goal for God’s People Male-child Bride of Christ Firstfruits Kings and Priests Rapture Return & Judgment Seat of Christ Conquest of East Jerusalem 1967 Holy Priesthood TODAY Peace & Security The Great Day of God’s Wrath New Heaven & New Earth Millennial Kingdom 3½ Years 3½ Years 1000 Years Eternity Statehood of Israel 1948 Peace Treaty in the Middle East

Positive Signs of Christ’s 2nd Coming Restoration of the Holy Priesthood Birth of the Male-child (Overcomers) of the woman Maturation of the Firstfruits Preparation of the Bride of Christ Positive Signs of Christ’s 2nd Coming

Positive Signs of Christ’s 2nd Coming Restoration of the Holy Priesthood Birth of the Male-child (Overcomers) of the woman Maturation of the Firstfruits Preparation of the Bride of Christ Positive Signs of Christ’s 2nd Coming

God’s Plan with the Creation of Man – to Gain Firstfruits “So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Then God blessed them, and God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.’” (Gen. 1:27-28) What is a Firstfruit?

God’s Command For Israel To Bring Firstfruits “and the Feast of Harvest, the firstfruits of your labors which you have sown in the field; and the Feast of Ingathering at the end of the year, when you have gathered in the fruit of your labors from the field. “Three times in the year all your males shall appear before the Lord GOD. “You shall not offer the blood of My sacrifice with leavened bread; nor shall the fat of My sacrifice remain until morning. The first of the firstfruits of your land you shall bring into the house of the LORD your God...” (Exo. 23:16-19) God’s Command For Israel To Bring Firstfruits

God’s Sowing In Search of Firstfruits “Therefore hear the parable of sower.” (Matt. 13:18) “Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful. But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.” (Matt. 13:22-23) God’s Sowing In Search of Firstfruits

God’s Enemy Is Also Sowing Tares “He answered and said to them: “He who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world, the good seeds are the sons of the kingdom, but the tares are the sons of the wicked one. The enemy who sowed them is the devil, the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are the angels.” (Matt. 13:37-39) Mustard seed become a Big Tree “Another parable He put forth to them, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field, which indeed is the least of all the seeds; but when it is grown it is greater than the herbs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches.” (Matt. 13:31-32) God’s Enemy Is Also Sowing

The Vine Tree Bears Fruit “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.” (John 15:5-8) The Vine Tree Bears Fruit

Sowing and Watering in God’s Field “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor. For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building.” (1 Cor. 3:6-9) Sowing and Watering in God’s Field

Christ Himself Being the First of the Firstfruits “But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming.” (1 Cor. 15:20-23) Christ Himself Being the First of the Firstfruits

The Appearing of the Firstfruits After 2,000 years of sowing… “These are the ones who were not defiled with women, for they are virgins. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These were redeemed from among men, being firstfruits to God and to the Lamb.” (Rev. 14:4) The Appearing of the Firstfruits

Characteristics of the Firstfruits The Father’s will and business is on the top of our mind always (Rev. 14:1) Not defiled and follows the Lamb wherever He goes (Rev. 14:4) Spiritually they have a pure heart to love the Lord. (Rev. 14:4) No deceit in their mouths and without fault before the throne of God (Rev. 14:5) Live in holy conduct and godliness (Titus 2:12; 2 Pet. 3:11) Characteristics of the Firstfruits

Maturation of the Firstfruits “For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.” (Heb. 5:13-14) “Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God.” (Heb. 6:1) Maturation of the Firstfruits

The Goal for God’s People Male-child Bride of Christ Firstfruits Kings and Priests Rapture Return & Judgment Seat of Christ Conquest of East Jerusalem 1967 Holy Priesthood TODAY Peace & Security The Great Day of God’s Wrath New Heaven & New Earth Millennial Kingdom 3½ Years 3½ Years 1000 Years Eternity Statehood of Israel 1948 Peace Treaty in the Middle East

Positive Signs of Christ’s 2nd Coming Restoration of the Holy Priesthood Birth of the Male-child (Overcomers) of the woman Maturation of the Firstfruits Preparation of the Bride of Christ Positive Signs of Christ’s 2nd Coming

Schedule Saturday, 8:00 pm